Retired SFC Robert Wise Stepp, 81, died on Friday, Oct. 10, 2008, at Christus Spohn Hospital Beeville.

He was born in Lakeview, Ky., on March 6, 1927, to Arthur and Karma Stepp. He married Lieselotte Annemarie Buchdrucker on Aug. 4, 1956, in Amberg, Germany. He enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, and watching sports and his grandchildren’s activities.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1944 and retired on Jan. 1, 1966, at Fort Hood. He served during World War II in the Pacific Theatre during operations in the Philippines, where he earned his Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and during the Occupation of Germany. He became a sharpshooter and expert marksman, competing for many years in the Army Marksmanship competitions at Camp Perry, Ohio, where he received the President’s 100 Tab for superior marksmanship. Other awards and medals included the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Europe-Africa-Middle East Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, Victory Medal WWII, WWII Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Presidential Unit Citation.

He is survived by his wife, Lieselotte A. Stepp of Beeville; eight children, Hilde Mays of Nuremburg, Germany, Robert (Penny) Stepp of Spokane, Wash., Ronald (Ginny) Stepp of Harker Heights, Sylvia (Greg) Young of Weatherford, Barbara (Richard) Rinehart of Killeen, Clifford (Tonya) Stepp of Ft. Lawn, S.C., Billy (Tina) Stepp and Patricia Stepp, both of Beeville; special friend, Peg Thompson of Beeville; one sister, Vernadean (William) Yeary of Cape Coral, Fla.; two brothers, Gentry (Geraldine) Stepp of Chillicothe, Ohio, and Earnest (Ethel) Stepp of Wheatfield, Ind.; 29 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Clifford and Harold Stepp; and two grandsons, Luke Rogers and Christopher Cook.

Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday with full military honors at Central State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Austin Chapter, P.O. Box 4829, Austin, TX 78765; or St. Paul Catholic Church Building Fund, 100 E. FM 2410, Harker Heights, TX 76548.

Arrangements were entrusted to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen.